Hydraulic register resetting apparatus



Nov. 20, 1951 PRESSLER 2,575,562

HYDRAULIC REGISTER RESETTING APPARATUS Filed March 5, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET l PRES5LER INVENTOR.

TTORNEY Nov. 20, 1951 R. B. PRESSLER 2,575,562

HYDRAULIC REGISTER--RESETTING APPARATUS 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Flj. 3

Filed March 5, 1947 a7 I85 69 1,9 'm: :95

' 5 a0: f L I 5 191 a 2 05 209 m5 52a 3 3 29 7 I] 7 as Ia! RALPH E). Pzassuza 1 I INVENTOR. a!

- ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 20, 1951 HYDRAULIC REGISTER RESETTING APPARATUS Ralph B. Pres'slenFort Wayne, Ind.,' assignor to Bowser, lnc., Fort Wayne, In(l., a corporation of Indiana Application March 5, 1947, Serial No. 732 578 8 Claims.

This invention relates to an hydraulic appa- -ratus for resetting the register of a gasolinedis- 'flpenser; :m'ore specifically, it relates to an hydraulic cylinder, and-a valve, which is responsiveto the pressure 'in the flow line for the operation of the cylinder and resetting of the register at theistartof theidelivery operation.

In the dispensing of vgasoline, it is required that the registerwlii'ch displays the gallons dis- -pense'd in a transaction and/or the total sale price be reset before a succeeding transaction takes place so th'at the second customer will be assured that the .zgallons and price displayed represent the gasoline which has been delivered toihim.

It is an object of this invention toperform ithe resetting iunction very rapidly as soon as ithe dispenser is started :50 (that there will not be the opportunity ".of :dispensing liquid before 'res'etting has beencompleted.

Another'object of the invention is to insure thatthe activating piston is returned each'time toits initial position.

Yet another object 'ofthe invention is to insure that a lfull zstroke of the resetting mechanism will ibe had.

Still another object of ithe invention is :to.;pro- "vide :'a control mechanism for :the piston which will be dependable in operation.

I hese and other objects will. become apparent from astudy ofithis specification and the drawings which-are attached hereto'and are made a part hereof and in which:

*Eigure llis an elevation-withiparts broken away :of a disp'ensing apparatus :fitted with an hydraulid resetting apparatus.

'Fi'gure 2 is anelevation, partly in section, of theresetting apparatus and showing the cylinder,

piston, control valve and other parts.

Figure -3 isa diagrammatic view of :the air separator.

Eigure'4 is a diagrammatic View of the'rmeter manifold and the Icheckuand relief valve.

Figure 5 is a sectional view-f the register resetting drive taken substantiallyvon .line -5 of Figure 2.

J Figure-6 i an end view of thezero' stopadjustingimeans' taken on'the line li-Bro'f Figure 5.

Referring nowto Figure 1, the numeral! indicates a: basezto which are attached corner frame :members3, between-which extend various cross- ;members 5, land 9. A housing His also provided over the frame.

-;Mounted' on cross-member I 5 :is "an air separator-l3 itoswhich is attacheda pump i5-and a 55 motor I] which drives the pump through a -belt 19. .A meter 2|. is suspended from the cross- .members T7 by vmeans of studs 23 and spacers 25 and drives ,a register .21 by means of a suitable connection 25. The register may be (either a vsimple gallons indicating register or a computing register which displays unit price and cost of sale, as well .as thevnumber of gallons, through openings 28 in a dial.

"Referring .now to Figures .1 and 3, the suction ,pipejI3I is connected -.,to'the supply tanklnot shown) and to a .chamberst of theair separator [3. An outlet Iconnects with theiiilet of pump i5 and thepump outlet communicates with a port}? in'the separation.chamber139. A .by-passvalve 4i affords passagefor liquidbetween the outlet and inlet sides of the .pump when excessive pressure .is created in the system to prevent stallingflth'e-motor. 'A -liquid Ioutlet A 3 vleavesthe bottom of chamber' '39 while areistricted aseoutlet ika at the top ofthe chamber leads to a .vent line M and. a chamber '49; which has..a.port 5!, controlled by a float valve' 53,1ea'ding into the suction chamberi33.

"Liquid from outlet 43 passes-by Way of pipe 55 into .the .meter smanifold 57, .Asshown .in Figures 1 and 4, the inlet chamber 59. has, a. port liil which is closed by .alspringmpressed check valve '63 which=contains a spring ipressedtl'relief valve .55. Beyond the portllfil is a chamber fil which communicates with thelinlet port ,of the :meter. The meter outlet communicates withthe =chamber 69 towhichisconnected the discharge pipe .JLKsight glass 13, hose l5 .and noz'zlelll, which is pro vide d with almanually operables'elfclosing valve, i9.

A- switch *8 i which is actuated fro'rn,hose' v hook 33 by linkage.;85,-c0ntro1slthe operation of the motor. The usual interlock mechanism which prevents operation of the switch '8I prior'to resetting isentirely omitted so that the. switch .is operable-at will.

Referring newts Figures 2,5. and 6, and-,particularly to Figure 5 the shaft-:37 has a-sprocket 89 fixed toit. :A yokef93 is alsolfixed tolshaftlt'l and a .gear 95 is rotatably mountedeon the hub ,9? of-the yoke and. has an ear on .tabi95 projectving between the armsof .the, yoke forv engagement by adjusting screws it! threadedlyfen- -gagejd insaid arms,

The. gears-95 drives the register resetting. mech- ,anis'm shown-in ,U; SI Patent No. 2, 229;37O issued to W. Mflcarrollion January-21,1941, which, .is

preferably .usedgIfor-ithe register 27. The gear/ 95 of this application is identified by the numeral a 205 in the Carroll-patentk The shaft-81 is; jour rf alled intheregister irame members I03 and I and a spacer I01 is mounted on the shaft 81 between the frame member I03 and the gear 95. A collar I09 is pinned to the shaft 81 on the inside of frame member I05 to prevent the shaft from moving to the right as viewed in Figure 5. The key III engages the mating keyways H3 and H5 in the shaft 81 and the yoke hub 91 and this, with set screw II1, prevents motion of the shaft to the left and relative rotation of the yoke and shaft.

Figure 2 shows an idler sprocket II9 mounted on a shaft I2l which is also journalled in the frame members I03 and I05. A chain I23 is passed over both of the sprockets. The one end of the chain is fastened to a spring I25 which in turn is hooked under a projection I21 welded to one of the spacer 25. The other end of the chain is hooked to the end of a piston rod I29 of an hydraulic cylinder I3 I The hydraulic cylinder is comprised of a body I33 which is open on one end and a bottom head I35. The body has a cylindrical bore I31 extending up from the bottom. An internal boss I39 extends down into the body and is substantially on the center line of the bore. A second boss MI, slightly larger in diameter than the boss I39,extends upwardly from and coaxially therewith. A hole I43 extends through both bosses into the bore and provides a bearing for the rod I29. Packing I45, preferably in the form of a toroid, is placed in the counterbore I41 in sealing relation with the rod. Metal plates I49, fitting the rod, are placed over the counterbore and a felt wiper I5I is compressed between the -metal plates to exclude dirt. The plates and the wiper are held in place by screws I53 which engage threaded holes in the boss I4 I.

A cavity I55 in the body extends in from the top at one side of the bore I31 and is connected to the bore by the upper port I51 and the lower port I59. A valve body I6I screws into a threaded opening I63 in the cylinder body and has a sleeve I65 which passes beyond the port I51 of the body and seals in a bore I 61 in the cavity I55.

The valve body has a tapped hole I69 extending from the top into the bore I1I of the sleeve. Ports I13 are formed in the sleeve in line with the port I51. The juncture of the tapped hole I69 and the bore I1I provides a stop for the upward movement of the valve I which is mounted on the end of the shaft I11 and urged upward to close the hole I69 by the spring I19. A cross-bar I8I disposed in the cavity I55 but which does not seal ofi the cavity, serves as a guide for the lower end of the shaft I11 and as a support for the spring. It will be noted that when the valve is in its uppermost position that the valve is above the ports I51, I13.

The lower end I83 of the piston rod I29 is reduced in diameter to form a shoulder and the end is threaded; The threaded portion passes through centrally located holes designated by the numeral I85 in the circular piston I81. The piston is comprised of an upper follower I89 of Bakelite or similar material and slightly less in diameter than the bore I31, the piston leather I9I having an upturned peripheral flange I93 which engages the bore I31, an intermediate follower I95 which is identical to the upper follower I 89, and a metal follower I 91 which is smaller in diameter than the followers I89 and I95. A nut holds the piston assembled on the stem.

A flange I91 extends around the bottom of the cylinder body and mates with a flange I99 on 4 the head I35. Screws 20I extend through clearance holes in the flange I99 and engage threaded holes in the flange I91 to secure the head to the body.

A circular boss 203 rises a short distance from the inner surface of the slightly dished head I35 and serves as a bottom stop for the iston I81. An outlet port 205 formed in the head terminates in a tapped hole 291 in the boss 209.

A tube 2II provides a liquid connection between the inlet port 213 (Fig. 4) of the meter manifold 51 and the threaded hole I69 of the valve seat I6I in the hydraulic cylinder I31.

A second tube 2I5 connects the cylinder outlet boss 209 with the opening 2I1 in the suction side of the air separator I3 (Fig. 3).

Operation When it is desired to dispense gasoline from the pump, shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, the nozzle 11 is removed from the hose hook 83 and with valve 19 of the nozzle in closed position, the hose hook 83 is pulled out to throw the switch SI to its on position, which in turn will start the motor I1. The motor will rotate the pump I5 which will draw the gasoline from the storage tank (not shown) through the suction pipe 3I into chamber 33 of the air separator I3 and through port 35 (Fig. 3) to the suction side of the pump, which will discharge the gasoline through the port 31 (Fig. 3) into the separation chamber 39. With the nozzle valve 19 closed, pressure will build up in the separation chamber sufficient to open the by-pass valve 4| permitting the liquid to return to the chamber 33.

The pump pressure is transmitted through the air separator outlet 43 by way of pipe 55 into the inlet chamber 59 of the meter manifold 51, and through port 2I3 and tube 2II to the valve I15 which is depressed against the action of spring I19 to open the port I13. At the same time the vacuum created by the pump is applied to the lower side of the valve I15 through conduits I55, 205, 2I5, port 2H and chamber 33, to assist in the movement of the valve This permits passage of the liquid through port I51 into the bore I31 at a point above the piston I81, which is at rest against the lower face of boss I39. The piston I81 will move downward in the bore until it is stopped by the threaded end of rod I29 striking the face of boss 203. The downward movement of the piston is assisted by the application of the pump suction to the lower side thereof by means of port 205 and line 2I5. The downward movement of the piston will carry with it the chain I23 and will extend the spring I25. The chain passing over the sprockets will rotate the sprockets 89 and H9 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2 and the rotation of the sprocket 89 will be transmitted through shaft 81 to the yoke 93, which is secured to the shaft 81 by key III and set screw H1. The yoke drives the resetting gear through the screws IM and the tab 99. As stated above, since the gear 95 is a portion of the reset mechanism, the yoke 93 and screws IOI in the yoke and the tab 99 on the gear 95 provide a means for adjusting the reset so that the fixed downward stroke of the piston will reset the register wheels exactly to the zero mark in the dial openings 28.

After the reset is completed the nozzle valve 19 is placed in the gasoline tank and delivery of the gasoline is started by opening the nozzle valve 19. At this time, the by-pass valve III will close or partially close depending on the aster-s21 .5 'e" of fiowor' the "liquid being dispense -and the meter manifold checK'Valve SB will-opento "permit the liqui'dtoQpass -from chambertQ to 'fch'amberfil and into the nfeterZl. "After being metiered the liquid passes through themeter manifold chamber 69, the pipe EL-thesight glass '13, the hose is and "out through the nozzle.

"The movementof the meter willrotate shaft 219 which is" connected to drivethe register =2? andadvance the number wheels to show the "gallons delivered and their sale price.

'After completion of the delivery the hose hook T33 is" pushed in to stop the motor li'andthe f p'ump'lfi. "This'will relieve'the pressure-on the valve [15' and'the spring ill will urge the valve upwardto close the'hole I69. The spring-1'25 will pull downward on the chain and revolvethe sprockets 89 and Us in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, which will exert an upward pull on the piston [8! through the rod I 29 and the liquid in the bore l3? above the piston will not have to be returned to the chamber 33 of the air separator by way of ports ifil, I73, I55 and 2%, tube M5 and the opening 2 il in the suction side of the separator but will simplyby-pass from-oneside of the piston to the other through-port 15?, chamber 15% and "port H59. This prevents'an excessive accumulation of liquid in the fioat chamber 29 of the air separator and in vent pipe 41 so that no liquid can be discharged to atmosphere. The boss I39 serves as a stop for the return stroke of the piston.

The return stroke of the piston will revolve the sprocket 39 and the number wheel reset shafts approximately 390 degrees in a direction reverse to the resetting movement. The additional BO-degree movement over the 860-degree reset stroke is a safety measure to insure resetting of all the number wheels.

It should also be noted that during the resetting stroke, the piston has applied to it not merely the discharge pressure of the pump but also the vacuum created by the pump.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the form, structure and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, applicant does not desire to be limited to the specific embodiment disclosed herein primarily for purposes of illustration; but instead, he desires protection falling fairly within the scope or the appended claims.

What I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination of a resettable register having a reset position, a liquid pump, means for starting and stopping said pump, a meter driven by liquid fiow from said pump and connected to drive the register away from reset position, an hydraulic cylinder, a piston movable in said cylinder and connected to operate said register to reset position, a conduit directly connecting opposite ends of said cylinders, a valve mounted for movement, said valve being movable between positions in which it opens and closes said conduit, means for normally holding said valve in conduit open position and means connecting said valve for hydraulic operation by said pump to its conduit closing position.

2. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination of a resettable register having a reset position, a liquid pump, means for starting and stopping said pump, a meter driven by liquid flow from said pump and connected to drive the "register atti d-om T reset 'pc'slti'on, an' hydraulic cyliderba piston movable *in 'said cylinder "arid een necrea to operate-said register to reset-"position,- acenduit directly connecting-opposite ends 5 of saidfcyl-inder,--'a*valveinounted' for movement,

said valve being movable between *positions in *wliichit opens-and closes "-said' conduit, means cnne'cting said -valve for hydraulic operation saidx'pump toits conduit closingpcsition, and 10 resilient means 'fer-mo'ving-s'aid valve to -and "holding it in its conduit open-ing position when said pump is not-operating.

-'3.'- -In* a liquid dispensing apparatus, the combina tion er a resettable register having a -'re'set -position;-a -liquid pump, meansf or starting and stopping-said -pump,-'-a meter 'drivenby said pum'p and connected 'to drive the -register -away from reset po' ion, 7 fan hydraulic cylinder, a "piston movable n' said' cylinder and connected to opg -erate s'aid register to-r'eset position, a port-in ea'ch endof said cylinder, a conduit connecting -said-ports,- an inlet port connected to the pump "discharge, valve means mounted-fonmovem'ent "-between--a first position for opening thecbndiiit 25130 connect the ports in the ends-ofthe cylinfdryand a second-position for connecting the po'rt in' one end of the cylinder with the- -inlet "port.

4. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination of a resettable register having a reset position, a liquid pump, means for starting and stopping said pump, a, meter driven by said pump and connected to drive the register away from reset position, an hydraulic cylinder, a piston movable in said cylinder and connected to operate said register to reset position, a port in each end of said cylinder, a conduit connecting said ports, an inlet port connected to the pump discharge, valve means mounted for movement between a first 0 position for opening the conduit to connect the ports in the ends of the cylinder and a second position for connecting the port in one end of the cylinder with the inlet port, said valve being adapted for movement to said second position in response to operation of said pump.

5. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination of a resettable register having a reset position, a liquid pump, means for starting and stopping said pump, a meter driven by said pump and connected to drive the register away from reset position, an hydraulic cylinder, a piston movable in said cylinder and connected to operate said register to reset position, a port in each end of said cylinder, a conduit connecting said ports, an inlet port connected to the pump discharge, valve means mounted for movement between a first position for opening the conduit to connect the ports in the ends of the clyinder and a second position for connecting the port in one end of the cylinder with the inlet port, said valve being adapted for movement to said second position in response to operation of said pump, and resilient means for restoring said valve to said first position upon stopping of said pump.

6. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination of a resettable register having a reset position, a liquid pump, means for starting and stopping said pump, a meter driven by said pump and connected to drive the register away from reset position, an hydraulic cylinder, a piston movable in said cylinder and connected to operate said register to reset position, a port in each end of said cylinder, a conduit connecting said ports, an inlet port connected to the pump discharge, valve means mounted for movement between a first position for opening the conduit to connect the ports in the ends of the cylinder and a second position for connecting the port in one end of the cylinder with the inlet port, and means for connecting the port in the opposite end of said cylinder to the suction side of the pump.

7. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination of a resettable register having a reset position, a liquid pump, means for starting and stopping said pump, a meter driven by said pump and connected to drive the register away from reset position, an hydraulic cylinder, a piston movable in said cylinder and connected to operate said register to reset position, yieldable means for returning said piston, a port in each end of said cylinder, a conduit connecting said ports, an inlet port connected to the pump discharge, valve means mounted for movement between a. first position for opening the conduit to connect the ports in the ends of the cylinder and a second position for disconnecting said ports and connecting the port in one end of the cylinder with the inlet port, said valve being disposed for movement to said second position by liquid under pressure from said pump.

8. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination of a resettable register having a reset position, a liquid pump, means for starting and stopping said pump, a meter driven by said pump and connected to drive the register away from re'set position, an hydraulic cylinder, a piston movable in said cylinder and connected to operate said register to reset position, a port in each end of said cylinder, a conduit connecting said ports, constantly open means connecting the first port with the suction side of the pump, an inlet port connected to the pump discharge, valve means mounted for movement between a first position for opening the conduit to connect the ports in the ends of the cylinder and a second position for disconnecting said first and second ports and connecting the second port with the inlet port, said valve being disposed for movement to said second position by liquid under the pump differential pressure.

RALPH B. PRESSLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,947,383 Dayton Feb. 13, 1934 2,289,003 Foss July 7, 1942 2,511,159 Griflith et a1. June 13, 1950 

